Role-playing games can be an exciting way to immerse yourself in a new world, but what do you do when your PC (player character) fails an investigation, perception, or sense motive check?
Don’t worry, there are still plenty of ways to keep the game moving. Here are 10 creative thing I’ve come up with that can be read aloud to help keep the investigation, perception, or sense motive checks interesting and exciting.
- “As you search the room, you can’t shake the feeling that you’re being watched. Suddenly, you hear a quiet whisper in your ear, ‘You won’t find what you’re looking for here.'”
- “The darkness is overwhelming, but you can hear the sound of someone breathing heavily in the distance. Suddenly, you see a figure slowly emerging from the shadows.”
- “You look around the room, but nothing seems out of place. Suddenly, a hidden door creaks open and a figure steps out, holding a piece of evidence that could change the course of the investigation.”
- “You listen carefully for any signs of trouble, but all you can hear is the sound of your own heart pounding in your chest. Suddenly, you hear a faint whisper, ‘You’re not welcome here.'”
- “As you search the room, you can’t help but feel like you’re missing something important. Suddenly, you see a glimpse of movement in the corner of your eye, but when you turn to look, there’s no one there.”
- “You’re starting to feel like you’re going in circles, but then you notice something strange. There’s a small crack in the wall that wasn’t there before.”
- “You’re getting closer to the truth, but suddenly you hear a noise that makes you freeze. It’s a low growl, and it’s getting closer.”
- “You search the room, but you can’t find any clues. Suddenly, you hear a faint voice in the distance, ‘You’re getting warm.'”
- “You’re starting to lose hope, but then you see something that makes your heart skip a beat. There’s a message written on the wall in blood, ‘You’re getting closer.'”
- “You’re about to give up when you notice something strange about the floor. There’s a small trapdoor that was hidden in plain sight. You open it and find a secret room filled with evidence that could change the course of the investigation.”
By using creative paragraphs such as these (I’m sure you can come up with better ones) you can keep the investigation, perception, or sense motive checks interesting and exciting, even when your PC fails the roll.
With a little bit of imagination and creativity, the game can continue to be an enjoyable and thrilling experience for everyone involved.